Two Alanson residents arrested by Emmet County authorities last week have been arraigned in connection with charges of felony retail fraud.

Emmet County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Colleen White, 23, and George White, 42, after evidence alleged that the pair were shoplifting merchandise from area stores and returning it without a receipt for cash.

“Deputies were called to Wal-Mart in Petoskey to find the subjects had participated in a year-long retail fraud scam,” Sheriff Pete Wallin said. “After further investigation, deputies seized nearly $2,000 worth of stolen merchandise.”

Wallin added that the Whites are also suspected of pulling similar scams at Glen’s Market, Meijer and the Dollar General Store in Alanson.

“A new retail law went into effect on April 1 making organized retail fraud a 5-year felony,” Wallin said. “These types of complaints have certainly increased lately, but hopefully with the new retail laws it will stop some of this activity.”

Colleen White is out on bond, George White remains lodged at the Emmet County Jail on a $10,000 bond, Wallin said.